Curse of Knowledge
We find it hard to imagine not knowing something once we've learned it.
The Curse of Knowledge is a cognitive bias where people who are knowledgeable about a topic struggle to understand what it's like to lack that knowledge. It's like trying to explain how to ride a bike to someone who's never seen one - you might skip crucial details because they seem obvious to you. This bias makes it challenging for experts to effectively communicate with novices or for teachers to fully grasp their students' difficulties. Essentially, once we know something, it's hard to put ourselves in the shoes of someone who doesn't know it. Think of it like a chef being puzzled why a beginner can't make a perfect soufflé, forgetting all the little tricks and techniques they've internalized over years of practice!
Example
Tech Support
An IT expert uses jargon-filled explanations to help a computer novice, leaving the user more confused. Why? The expert has forgotten what it's like not to understand these technical terms.
In your professional life
Seek Fresh Perspectives for Documentation
When creating documentation or user guides, involve someone unfamiliar with the subject to review and provide feedback. This could be a new team member or someone from a different department. Their fresh perspective can help identify areas where you've unknowingly skipped important explanations, potentially making your materials more comprehensive and user-friendly.
Go deeper in ThinkBetter
ThinkBetter is the app for mental models and cognitive biases. For Curse of Knowledge, the free version includes more than this page — further examples, a quiz, audio, and a weekly path — and every model and bias in the library. Pro is an optional, inexpensive upgrade for the rest of the deep-dive.
